GLENDALE, Ariz. (670 The Score) -- Now in his fifth season, White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon has a key number in mind in 2019: 32.
That's the number of starts he's eyeing, as it would represent a full workload and a season of health. Rodon's first four MLB seasons have been marked by injury woes, as he made just 12 starts in 2017 and 20 in 2018.
"For sure, that is the big number," Rodon said on Inside the Clubhouse on 670 The Score on Saturday. "This spring is about getting ready for Opening Day or whatever day I am slotted for. My goal is to stay healthy and refine my craft. I want to be ready to start the season."
Rodon was 6-8 with a 4.18 ERA and 1.26 WHIP last season. He did have dominant stretch in the middle of the season, posting a 1.84 ERA across nine starts in July and August. The use of his changeup along with a nasty slider was a game-changer for Rodon.
"The change-up was very good for me," Rodon said. "It finally showed up after six years of development. It became the early outs pitch for me, kind of early in the count 0-1 or 1-1, I was able to drop it in there and get me a groundball when I needed it. It was not a stressful pitch. For me, it was easy to throw. It became something I could to when I needed it and rely on. Right now, I can go to it whenever I need it. It is a good pitch to have in the back pocket."
Rodon has the second-most tenure of any pitcher on the team, behind only setup man Nate Jones. With that in mind, Rodon was asked about the White Sox's pursuit of Manny Machado in free agency, which fell short when he agreed to a 10-year, $300-million deal with the Padres.
"It sure sounded like we made a nice push on Manny," Rodon said. "He would have been a real nice acquisition for us. I have said this before, the guys who make free agency and put those years in and take a gamble on themselves have earned the right to pick and choose where they want to go. Whatever it takes to make that decision, they have earned that right. As long as (the White Sox) made a run at it and gave our best shot, that is all we could do.
"We are focused on what we can do as a team. We are getting ready for the season with the players we have. (Manny) is in the past behind us. We are worried about today. I know it is so cliche, but honestly it's the truth."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
